At Least The Fish Must Have Been Happy

Only at an ice fishing derby could participation actually fall because of the kind of balmy weather that draws most Americans out of their warm homes.

But that was the case at the 31st annual derby Feb. 9 and 10 on Channel Lake near Antioch, said Bob Lindquist, co-chairman of the Northern Illinois Conservation Club, which sponsored the event.

Despite the sizable rubber-booted crowd exchanging advice amid the ice shanties, a lot of people didn`t show because they probably just couldn`t believe there was any ice, what with the 30- and 40-degree weather, he said.

Instead of getting the normal 12,000 registrants, only around 10,000 signed up to try their luck at winning $100 for the biggest or $25 for the smallest fish in 10 categories: muskie, walleye, catfish, bass, perch, pike, crappie, bullhead or bluegill.

The biggest whopper in the entire competition, a 17-pound, 31.6-inch catfish, was reeled in by Marcos Ernendez of Gurnee, and Tom Saraca won the puniest-creature prize for his 1.5-inch bluegill.

``It doesn`t seem like the fish are doing what they`re supposed to be doing,`` which is to jump at the maggots, wax worms and other baits, lamented Randy Kraujals of Bartlett.

But despite what fuddy-duddies think, there`s a point to at least trying, Kraujals said: ``I think ice fishing is more comraderie. People are different when ice fishing. They`re more tolerant.``

Frank Kane of Elgin explained, ``If you`re an outdoor person, it`s a good reason to get out.``

Simplicity is the real beauty, though, said Randy Miles of Antioch. ``You go drill a hole and drop a line in.``

No, no, it`s the poles that are fun, corrected a smiling Steve Cynar of Waukegan. ``It`s just such a gas pulling fish in with little (2-foot) poles.``